OPERATION:
RECIPROCITY

EPILOGUE: When All
Is Said and Done

"You know that this place is a
perfect replica of Wolf's Drop back home?"

"Yeah."

"It's weird how there can be a
place looking just like Wolf's Drop in here... What a coincidence,
huh?"

"It's not a coincidence."

"What d'you mean?"

"Well, when we moved our base
to Limbo, I thought that you might like something here reminding
you of your home, so I took Illyana to see Wolf's Drop so she
could craft a replica of it here."

"... That's so sweet of you."

"Well, in retrospect I think I
shouldn't have done it."

"Why?"

"Because. It just brought us
closer. And I was married already at that point. I shouldn't even
have been thinking of trying to seduce other women."

"You had no need to seduce me.
You already had me. You know that. You -knew- that. You weren't
trying to seduce me."

"Oh yeah? What was I doing?"

"You wanted to make me happy."

"..."

"Am I wrong?"

"... No."

"That's one of your sweetest
qualities, you know. You really want to make a girl happy. And
you'll do anything to accomplish that."

"Too bad I usually mess up,
huh?"

"You don't."

"Look at where I have gotten
you, me and her."

"... You aren't completely to
blame."

"Who is?"

"I am. She is. All three of us
are."

"She isn't."

"Oh? And I am?"

"I didn't say that."

"Because you want to be polite.
One of your failings. You're a sucker for a pretty face. You can't
tell a girl anything bad."

"..."

"But you're wrong. All three
of us -are- to blame. The two of us for hanging onto our love,
and she for -letting- us hang onto it."

"She didn't..."

"She did. Didn't she? She knew
all along."

"How do you know?"

"I was there, sorta. When she
killed me."

"That wasn't you."

"It was, in a way. All its
emotions...thoughts...words... They were all me. A hundred
percent. Just pushed to a point where I had to speak out."

"That still doesn't explain
how you remember what happened to it."

"It's hard to describe. It's
like if you tried to describe me how you do that 'Black Rain'
trick of yours. You can't, because it's all mental, and very
complicated. But to oversimplify, I have a sorta telepathic link
with my creations, to one degree or another. That's how I can
keep controlling them. And because it was a hundred percent me,
we kinda hit a resonance and it became a complete mindlink. I
dunno how to explain it better."

"..."

"So, what's on your mind? Mind
if I sit with you?"

"No, I don't. She might,
though."

"She'll never know."

"So we start hiding again?
Keeping things from her until we find out she knew all along?"

"..."

"..."

"... I don't want that."

"Neither do I."

"So what do we do?"

"You tell me."

"Funny, isn't it? Two of the
biggest leaders of our generation, and we can't figure out how to
go about this situation."

"Ironic, maybe. But right now,
I don't find anything about this situation even remotely funny."

"... I'm sorry."

"So am I."

"About what?"

"Dragging you into all this."

"I'm a grown woman. No offense
to your ego, but I got involved with you because I love you. Not
because you seduced me or anything. I make my own choices."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"How so?"

"I'm afraid of losing you."

"You have her."

"I know..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"... I love you."

"You love her."

"..."

"..."

"Is it impossible to love two
women?"

"No, but it's pretty close to
impossible to love the two of us. We're both too stubborn, proud
and possessive. I don't want to share you."

"Neither does she."

"I know. That's why she killed
me."

"... I'm sorry."

"So am I."

"About what?"

"For loving you."

"Never be sorry for that."

"All it's ever given us is
pain."

"Not true. You don't believe
that."

"... No. I don't. I have never
been as happy as I have been with you."

"..."

"I have never really been
close to anyone. Except maybe Black Eagle, my grandfather. I was
always a hermit, preferring the nature to other kids. I guess
because I never felt anything in common to anyone. That changed
when I came to Xavier's. Everything changed there. I actually
felt close to people. I felt like I meant something. And I made
damn sure to not let go of that. Until the Valkyries. I felt even
closer to them. They were like the Cheyenne and the mutant, mixed.
I felt like both sides of me could cut loose with them. But then
I had to leave, and we formed the MLF. And I realized that I
loved you. You were my first guy, 'Berto. But then again, you
know that. And I know I wasn't your first girl. It's never really
bothered me. I guess because I first got to know you as that
flirty guy. I came to know you as that guy that every girl fell
for. So I knew you were like that. But... When it started getting
serious, I started to worry. Because when I started loving you, I
also wanted you. All of you. And I wanted to be the only one who
had you."

"..."

"..."

"I don't know what to say."

"Me neither."

"..."

"..."

"... I -do- love you."

"I know. And I believe you.
But that isn't enough. Not for me. Not anymore."

"What do I do?"

"You need to make your choice."

"I already made it."

"That's what she says. Is that
what you say too?"

"... No."

"What -do- you say?"

"..."

"..."

"I don't know."

"You can't choose between us,
can you?"

"No. I can't."

"Then you're going to lose
both of us."

"I don't want to."

"Tough."

"..."

"... Look, I'm sorry."

"For my mistakes?"

"..."

"I want both of you."

"You can't have both of us."

"No, I can't, can I? And
whichever of you I choose, I hurt the other one. I would rather
die than hurt one of you."

"Maybe you should die, then."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Maybe I should."

"..."

"..."

"... I don't want you to die."

"You don't?"

"No. I love you, you idiot."

"I don't deserve you. Or her."

"No. You don't. But we love
you anyway. And I don't think that'll ever change."

"So the choices left to me are
to hurt one of you, or to die. I have to say, I'm not too fond of
the options left to me."

"No one would, in your
position. But it's a choice you have to make. Just remember..."

"... What?"

"... If you die, you'll hurt
both of us. Worse than you could hurt us by choosing the other
one."

"Would I? Sometimes I feel
like the world would be a better place without me."

"Not for her. And not for me.
And not for all the mutants you have helped."

"Too bad none of them can help
me now in return."

"Some of them probably could.
All you need is to find a telepath to change my and her minds."

"You wouldn't be the women I
love if you weren't so proud. That is not an option."

"Oh, and it would be otherwise?"

"I'm ruthless. That's why you
love me."

"That's just part of why I
love you. And you're not ruthless. You're obsessive."

"Same thing."

"Not always. Ruthless people
only think of their own good, and do anything to achieve it. You
are obsessive. You think of other peoples' good as well, and will
do anything to achieve it."

"... So?"

"So you're selling yourself
short."

"It's not as if I'm too proud
of who I am right now."

"You should be."

"Why?"

"Because we love you. We aren't
stupid. We don't love people who aren't worth it."

"You just a while back said I
don't deserve your love."

"Yeah well, are you gonna sue
me for false advertising?"

"..."

"People are inconsistent. I'm
inconsistent. Love is inconsistent. What can I say? It felt like
the right thing to say."

"So, do I deserve your love or
not?"

"Does it matter?"

"It does to me."

"It doesn't to me."

"Why not?"

"Because I love you anyway,
dammit. It doesn't have -anything- to do whether you meet some
made-up criteria of 'deserving' my love. I just do. And that's
just how it is. Live with it."

"Or die with it."

"@sshole."

"I know."

"Why do you have to be so damn
stubborn?"

"I'm not. I'm...what did you
call me? Obsessive?"

"Yeah. You're definitely that."

"Could you make a choice if
you were in my position?"

"No. But I'm not. And you have
to make it."

"Thanks for the support."

"You're welcome."

"..."

"..."

"So, what now?"

"You make your choice."

"..."

"I know it isn't easy, but you
don't have a choice, -but- to make a choice."

"... I will. But..."

"I know. Trust me. I know."

"What do you know?"

"I know that this isn't an
easy choice for you. And if you choose her, it doesn't mean you
love me any less."

"Something like that. Does it
sound as hypocritical to you as it does to me?"

"Yeah."

"I nonetheless mean it."

"I know. And if you choose her,
I won't love you any less either."

"Madonna... That sounds so...so...oversentimental
that it's almost ridiculous."

"It's nothing we haven't been
telling each other for years."

"I suppose. I just... I keep
wondering. Somehow..."

"... What?"

"... I don't know. I just feel
like this is the last time we two can be happy together."

"Maybe it is."

"Does that mean you will be
angry with me if I choose her?"

"Probably."

"Oh."

"... It still doesn't mean I'd
stop loving you."

"Would it mean we couldn't get
along?"

"Maybe. Probably not."

"We were able to be just
friends once. We could do it again.

"Yeah."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"... Or not... Look - I just
don't know. I -want- you. I really don't know how I would react
if you chose her instead."

"I'm not sure I would want to
find out."

"Smart, kiddo."

"You said it."

"But... Please... Don't make
your choice because you're afraid of angering one of us. Make
your choice with that part of you that I love."

"Hmmmm..."

"NO!!! *giggle* Not -that-
part!!!"

"Hrmp. Oh well..."

"Listen - I meant your heart.
Make your choice with your heart."

"If I use my heart to make the
choice, I'll never make it... I would get better results by
flipping a coin..."

"... Well, it isn't difficult
to be honest, and if it makes women happy, why not??"

"You're impossible!"

"No. Just charming."

"That too... You're awfully
close..."

"I know. It's intentional."

"She's going to find out..."

"I don't care. This could be
the last chance we have."

"Well then, you'd damn well
better make sure it isn't."

"Hey! What...??"

"Sorry. But I think I'm going
to give you some incentive to choose me."

"And running away is going to
do that?"

"You're not fooling anyone.
Just make the right choice, and I'm yours! Bye!!"

"... DAMN!!!"

Tabitha plopped down on the chair,
and popped her beer, taking a long sip before her eyes went to
the television. Around her was a light, open room which had been
decorated in a fashion one might expect from a rich mansion on
late 20th Century Earth.

But the room was not on Earth. In
fact, not even close. This was the pocket dimension sometimes
known as Limbo, and though that wasn't its true name, it was the
name its mistress persisted in using for it, perhaps to remind
herself that the place hadn't really changed. All the horrors of
her youth were still there... Just waiting for her hold to slip...

None of this fazed Tabitha. She
wasn't really even aware of the importance of the dimension
surrounding her. Once, in her teens, she had fought demons who
had descended upon New York, during a night that later came to be
referred to as 'Inferno'. But that was a long time ago. And
frankly, she had faced worse threats after that. So maybe it was
understandable that she was so unaware of the danger around her.
Hiding. Waiting.

"Tabitha?"

Quirking an eyebrow, Tabitha's head
turned towards the exit which the voice had come from. At the
doorway stood a figure, almost hesitant to step in, just waiting
there almost shyly. "Rahne?" Tabitha asked curiously.
"What's up?"

With a light step, the woman
stepped inside, the grace of her movements perfectly silent, half-lupine,
as she settled down to sit on the armrest of a recliner opposite
Tabitha. Drawing her knees up against her chest, and wrapping her
arms around them, she rested her chin atop the knees. "Och,
nothin'..." she said, but her tone was more than obviously
lying.

A slight frown. Tabitha leaned back
in her chair, and took another sip of the beer, before placing it
down on a table beside her. "Okay, spill it", she said
authoritatively. "I don't need a crystal ball to predict the
obvious", she chuckled, making a joke of Cable's old saying.
"Something's buggin' you."

"... Aye..." was Rahne's
quiet answer, and she didn't look at Tabitha, keeping her eyes
away from the brunette by pretending to look at one of the
several statues on the shelves. "What... What happened t' ye
an' Sam?" she asked. "I heard th' Marauders plannin'
somethin' f'r ye, but I wasnae in time tae stop'em..." Her
tone was apologetic, ashamed.

Silence descended, as Tabitha eyed
Rahne for a while. The street girl was not stupid. Then, she
shrugged and broke the silence, taking a quick sip of the beer.
"Long story", she brushed it off, not wanting to
discuss her experience.

The wolf-woman tensed up a bit as
Tabitha eyed her, and cast her eyes downwards. "I'm listenin'..."
she said weakly.

Again, Tabitha eyed Rahne for a
while, and finished the beer. Saying nothing, she continued on to
take a cigarette from her pocket and light it with a snap of her
fingers. "Well... We met Sabretooth, I killed him, then we
fell into a chasm and escaped. No biggie." Her tone matched
her words, making this seem like an ordinary matter. Even -
especially - killing Sabretooth.

The hurried words did not slip past
the observant Tabitha Smith, but she decided not to comment on
them. Not yet. But she was dying of curiosity. Something was
going on... Something she wasn't aware of. And she was going to
be aware of it very soon. "Well, Sam came after me..."
she explained while her brain went on a completely different
track. "He caught me, and just when he got me, the chasm
disappeared. Dani musta stopped projecting it. Anyway, Sam's
blast field protected us when the stone sealed up 'round us. We
knew we'd gone down a long way, and Sam couldn't get us to move a
bit with his blast field..." She took a quick breath of the
cigarette, remembering the enclosed little life pocket deep
within bedrock got her nervous. Not that she'd ever admit it. And
she needed something to calm down her nerves. "So, we
figured we had nothing to lose... He opened up a hole under the
blast field, I put my biggest, most powerful nuke out under us,
and Sam pulled his field tighter around us..." Her hand
trembled a bit, as it held the cigarette. "Hell, we figured
we didn't have anything to lose. If it didn't work, we'd be
splattered along the insides of the ground. But if we didn't try
anything, we'd suffocate down there anyway..." She swallowed,
and went over to the fridge to get another beer, the cigarette
shortening quickly as she puffed on it eagerly in nervousness.
"Well, anyway, here we are. It worked. My nuke shot us out
like a cannonball. Wasn't a nice ride, but at least we're alive."

Listening attentively, Rahne nodded
every now and then as the story proceeded, and unconsciously bit
her lip, her sharp teeth drawing a bit of blood, but the wound
was healed almost immediately by her healing factor. "I... I'm
glad ye're okay... I'm sorry I couldn't be there in time tae help..."

A moment of silence reigned again,
as Tabitha kept looking at Rahne while she popped the beer and
sipped at it. She concealed her suspicions with streetwise ease,
just enough for the already-distracted Rahne not to notice, even
with her enhanced senses. "So, what's the story with Bobby?
Dani and Amara killed each other yet?"

Responding with a cold frown, Rahne
slowly slid down from the armrest, to stand beside the recliner.
"I dinnae like ye not carin' about wha' happens tae Dani",
she stated.

"Who said I didn't care?"
was the response from Tabitha. "I just asked what was up.
And you sound a bit high-strung, wolfie. Dani's problems getting
to you?" She paused, and puffed at the cigarette, getting
calmer now that her own fears were out of the way. "Besides,
it isn't my fight."

The growl coming from Rahne's
throat was more wolfen than human. It wasn't dangerous, just...frustrated.
"Then I'll thank ye kindly tae stay out o' it." She
started out of the room with a determined pace. "If ye'll
excuse me, I have something tae do..." she intoned in an icy
tone.

"Sure", Tabitha answered,
while stumping the cigarette onto an ashtray. "Say hi to
Bobby?" she bluffed, confident as ever.

"Aye..." responded Rahne
in turn, before catching herself. "Och..." Her face
twisted, in a mixture of shame at having been figured out, and
anger. Then she just disappeared out the same door she had come
in thru, without another word.

Tabitha shook her head as she
watched Rahne leave. Turning around, she sipped at the beer, and
returned her attention back to the television as she sat back
down to her chair. A slight chuckle came from her, as she thought
about the wolf-woman. o O (Sometimes, she acts just like she was
still a kid...)

The light of the stepping disk
illuminated the room for a moment, as Roberto entered thru it,
the bedchambers of himself and his wife, Lady Amara Aquilla. He
brushed his fingers thru his long hair, and then let it descend
onto his shoulders, as he sat down onto the side of the bed.
"Amara?" he called out, looking for his love anywhere.

There was no response, and Roberto
began undressing for shower, while thoughts of all kinds roamed
thru his head, confusing him, pressuring him, driving him insane.
He closed his eyes for a moment in an attempt to quiet down,
clear his head, but to no avail. Everything remained a chaos to
him. A jumbled mess, a disorder his life had degenerated so
suddenly, when he had thought everything had been perfect.

He had had them both. Amara as his
wife, and Danielle as his mistress. Everything had been so good...
But like they say, 'All good things...' Roberto concealed his
face in his hands, sighing profoundly. Where was his life going
now? What was going to happen? Lost in his thoughts, he discarded
his last piece of clothing, not noticing the approaching figure
until it was too late.

Warm, gentle fingers descended onto
his shoulders from behind, as he realized the bed had sunk a bit
under the weight of an additional person, behind him. His
expression contorted, and he bit his lips. "Amara..."
he said with a pained tone.

"Shhh, my love..."
answered the voice from behind him, the voice of his loving wife.
"Relax... And I will take care of you..." she whispered
quietly into his ear, lightly nibbling on it.

"Amara..." Roberto said,
reluctantly, and pulled away a bit. He swallowed, and looked at
her over his shoulder. "We need to talk..."

Not listening, Amara's hands went
around Roberto's waist, and pulled him back to the bed. He
struggled a bit, trying to stop her, but his hands fell weak, and
he found himself being mesmerized by the unclothed beauty of his
wife. "Amara..." he tried one last time, as she pushed
him onto his back, and sat atop him, but there was no response,
only light kisses raining down onto his chest.

"I talked to Dani",
Roberto finally said, feeling too guilty to give himself to the
pleasure.

At that, Amara immediately stopped,
her face hardening, and her eyes going to his. "What about
her?" she demanded venomously, her chin rising in a proud
fashion.

With a sigh, Roberto closed his
eyes. "She wants me to make a choice between the two of you",
he said, his tone revealing how torn he was.

Ignoring his husband's tone, Amara
simply discarded the statement as well, resuming her caresses,
her hands moving up and down over his chest. "Pathetic",
she stated. "You already made your choice years ago when you
married me."

No sound broke the silence for
three heartbeats. Then, Roberto frowned, and his eyes opened up.
"It isn't that simple, and you know it." He kissed
Amara's hand, as it came close to his lips. Then, he remembered
something, and got up from under Amara. "I just remembered
something..." he said, his voice getting the slightest bit
enthusiastic.

"The oil?" Amara asked in
a teasingly hopeful tone, challenging Roberto to go and get it,
as she stretched out on her back all over the king-sized bed.

A chuckle came from Roberto, but he
shook his head, as he started going thru his discarded clothes,
picking up his pants and searching the pockets. Finally, a small
exclamation of "Ah!" came from him, and he turned back
to Amara, discarding the pants again, and crawling further up on
the bed, with something in his hand.

Tilting her head, Amara watched
curiously, and pulled Roberto on top of her, wrapping her arms
around him and kissing him passionately for a long moment, before
letting him go. "Now, what did you remember, beloved?"

"This." Roberto held in
front of Amara's eyes, a ring. It glinted of fiery colors from
red to yellow, rubies inset on a golden band in the form of a
serpent eating its own tail. And on the inside of the ring were
inscribed the words, 'From Roberto Da Costa, to Lady Amara
Juliana Olivians Aquilla. I love you, with all my heart and soul.
Forever.'

Tears started minutely glistening
in Amara's eyes, as she realized it was the wedding ring she had
tossed away. The one she had -never- taken off after being
married to the man she loved. Except yesterday. She had thought
that the ring had been forgotten, left behind, and that she would
never see it again. But here it was, right in front of her eyes.
The man she loved had brought it back to her. "How...?"
she started to ask, but was choked in tears before getting any
further.

Smiling warmly, Roberto leaned down
to kiss Amara, long and intensely, before he answered. "I
took it", he said. "When we fought the Marauders. I got
it and saved it." He paused, and looked into his wife's eyes.
"Amara... I still love you every bit as much as I did the
day we were wed. Will you take my ring back?"

A brief blink to clear her eyes of
the tears, and Amara looked seriously into Roberto's eyes. "Nothing
would make me happier, my love", she whispered. "But I
wish for you to tell me that you love me, and only me, first."

Those words struck Roberto like a
slap across the face. "Are you saying you will not take my
ring back if I can not say that??" he swallowed, not being
able to believe this was happening.

"Why?" Amara asked.
"Is there a problem?" Her tone was overly naive, so
much so that Roberto realized she was only making a charade. But
she was serious as well, and he realized that.

Immediately, Roberto's eyes
narrowed. "You know the problem", he intoned coldly,
the warmth of the moment suddenly having disappeared into
nothingness.

Narrowing her eyes, Amara's
expression turned into a vicious frown. "Feh. Dani. I should
kill her again." Roberto knew his wife was ruthless. They
had both killed when necessary. And on few occasions even when it
wasn't necessary. But even so, he would probably not have taken
Amara seriously...if he hadn't seen her carry out that threat
yesterday.

The answer was quick, and
determined. "You will do nothing of the kind, Amara",
Roberto snapped, his eyes furious. "Or I will kill you. Is
that clear??" His threat was equally valid as hers, and
Amara knew it. This time he would carry it out.

Once more there was silence for a
while, and then Roberto kissed Amara, this one less passionate,
colder than the kisses before. "I will have to make a choice
between the two of you, Amara. And even when I have made it, it
does not mean I don't love the other one. I just won't show it."

"'The other one'??" Amara
asked, her temper starting to get the better of her. "The
other one is Dani. You have made your choice, Roberto! You have
chosen me! You can not go back! I am yours! You are mine! Accept
that!!" Tears started filling her eyes again. "You can't
leave me! What about all our plans? Our hopes? Our dreams?? What
about us, Roberto???" she demanded.

With a swallow, Roberto closed his
eyes. "Amara..." he said quietly, trying to calm her
down. "I... You are not going to wear my ring?"

"Not until you love me and
only me." The statement was firm, simple, and determined.
And Roberto knew that there was nothing that would make Amara
change her mind.

Sighing, Roberto rose from atop
Amara, and sat down onto the side of the bed, taking his clothes
as if starting to get dressed. "Then I think I should better
leave."

"NO!" Amara said, and sat
up quickly. Then she regained some small amount of control, and
she crawled up behind Roberto, sliding her hands around him.
"Come back to bed, my love..." she whispered quietly,
trying to lure her husband back to her. "We can enjoy
ourselves... I will make you forget all your worries..." Her
voice was an enticing purr at the base of his ear, pulling at his
soul.

But he had to resist. He didn't
want to, but he had to. Ironically enough, he knew that just like
Dani was trying to lure him in with withholding sex, Amara was
doing just the opposite, and offering the sex. So why should he
resist? Why not accept the offer? Because it would mean giving in
to Amara. Wouldn't it? "Amara..." He stood up, and
started getting dressed. "I love you, whether you believe it
or not." He closed his eyes as he pulled his pants on.
"Forever."

Hardly able to breathe, Amara
watched the man she loved, get dressed and walk up to the
stepping disk in the corner of the room. She gasped, as he
disappeared, and tears flowed down her cheeks. "nononononononono..."
she cried to herself, and threw herself onto her belly on the bed,
burying her face against the pillow. The large bed felt so lonely
alone. Alone. Something she hadn't felt in a long, long time.
Roberto had always been there. But now... For the first time,
maybe since she thought she was 'Allison Crestmere', a cold fear
of loneliness gripped her soul.

"If you steal my husband,
Danielle Moonstar, I will kill you. I will not care anymore.
Nothing will matter to me then. You will die."

"Love."

"Hate."

"Love."

"Hate."

"Without love, there is no
creation. Nothing would exist in the first place without it."

"Without hate, there is no
conflict. No death and no evolution. Everything would stagnate
and die away without it."

Roberto Da Costa appeared in one
corner of the cafe Illyana had created to be a nexus point of
Limbo. Called Crossroads, and modeled after a place she had
visited a few times - though with some minor modifications such
as adding liquor to the selection - it contained several dozen
stepping disks leading off to various parts of the pocket
dimension, and was one of the best ways to get around there.

Silently, he strode over to the
counter, not paying any attention to the usual bickering created
by the two owners behind it. "The usual", he stated,
knowing he would be heard.

The younger owner glanced over to
Roberto, and quirked an eyebrow at the stony expression on the
man's face. Then, she grabbed a glass, and a bottle of brandy,
and brought them over to him. "So, what is it this time,
handsome? Woman trouble again?"

It never ceased to amaze Roberto
how these two ladies always seemed to be aware of so much. He
simply shrugged, and poured himself a glass, downing it with a
quick motion. "Isn't that always the case, Pansy?"

"No, not always", Pansy
replied. "With you, though, that's usually the case." A
playful smirk danced on her lips as she leaned a bit over the
counter. "Who is it today, bunkie?"

With a roll of his eyes, Roberto
gave his answer. "Dani and Amara want me to choose between
them." He poured another glass of brandy and cast his eyes
downwards, locking them onto the glass. "How am I supposed
to choose one of them over the other??"

"Very carefully", said
Pansy's co-owner, as she came over, wiping the counter with a rag.

This elicited another roll of his
eyes from Roberto, who sighed and shook his head. "Ha ha,
Violet. Thank you for enlightening me. I feel so much better now."

Passing by emotionlessly, Violet
kept wiping the counter clean in smooth, circular motions. "Children
nowadays..." she muttered under her breath, but in the
corner of her eye, there was a good-natured twinkle of amusement.

The floor squeaked a bit as Pansy
pulled up a stool for herself on the other side of the counter
from Roberto. "Now look, chum", she said in a serious
tone, but maintaining the relaxed, smiling expression she had.
"Triangles are nasty things. And I don't mean any geometric
shapes or musical instruments, but your basic, run-of-the-mill
love triangles. I think a wise man once said, 'The battle can be
short or long, but the outcome, never in doubt.'"

A slight cough from Violet turned
Pansy's head in that direction. "I didn't say anything, dear",
Violet smiled innocently, and her attention turned back to the
wiping, but with a minutely broader smirk.

"ROBERTO DA COSTA!"

The light of a stepping disk grew
brighter for a moment, to herald a new arrival into Crossroads.
As the three previously-present figures all turned to look, they
saw the red-headed Scot, Rahne Sinclair, appear in a corner of
the cafe.

With a furious pace, Rahne strode
over to Roberto, and narrowed her eyes at the Brazilian. "I'm
glad yuir okay finally", she stated in a freezing tone.
"Now I can do this!" In an eyeblink, she pulled her
fist back, and then sent it forward, crashing onto Roberto's jaw.

Too surprised to dodge, Roberto was
caught squarely by the punch, and sent to the floor with a huge
crash. Once there, he blinked a few times, and rubbed his jaw.
"What...?"

"Tha's f'r all th' heartache
yuir been causin' Dani over th' years!" she growled and then
reached down, lifting Roberto up by the front of his shirt. Her
wolfen strength easily lifted him up, and her skin became a bit
darker as she subconsciously reverted a bit more towards her
lupine incarnation, slight fuzzy fur growing all over her, and
her fangs becoming more pronounced, glinting in the lights of the
Crossroads, almost like a vampire's. "I cannae tell ye whit
tae do. Tha's up tae you an' her. But I can tell ye tha' I'll be
watchin' ye, Roberto Da Costa." Her tone was more freezing
than anything he had ever heard before. Not from Xavier. Not from
Magneto. Not from Selene. Not from anyone. "I'll be watchin'
ye", she repeated, then let do of the shirt, tossing Roberto
back onto the floor.

Without saying or doing anything
else, she whirled around, and strode onto the stepping disk she
had emerged from, and disappeared in a flare of light.

Silence.

Then, a slight snicker broke the
quiet. Pansy was unable to restrain herself, as Roberto stumbled
back up. She glanced towards Violet, who was smiling as well,
though in a more restrained manner. They shrugged at each other,
maintaining their amused expressions.

"Both!" they exclaimed
together.

"I suppose you are wondering
why I have called you here today..." Roberto was standing on
one end of the meeting room, behind a podium, and addressing the
rest of the team.

"Debriefing, right?"
Tabitha asked, and lit a cigarette by snapping her fingers.

Theresa frowned, and waved her hand
in front of her nose. "Put that smelly thing away, Tabitha."
But the explosive brunette refused to comply, and Terry had to
content herself with looking extremely unhappy, shooting Meltdown
venomous glances.

"I'd hope this was gonna be an
opportunity for a raise, but I'm not getting paid..."
Deadpool degraded into unintelligible ramblings under his breath.
"That sucks, by the way. Not that anyone cares, but
mercenaries have hearts too." He paused for a moment as
everyone turned to look at him. "Okay, so maybe we don't...
But we have huge pockets to stuff money into!"

Sam closed his eyes and sighed. o O
(Lordy... I'm in charge of the loony-bin...) Wearily, he walked
up to the podium Roberto was behind, to stand beside him and
address the team before him. "Okay, everyone... Calm down.
No, this ain't a debriefin', not that I know of, anyway..."
He glanced sideways to Roberto. "Is it, Bobby?" he
asked, quirking his eyebrow.

Roberto shook his head, and frowned
a bit. "No, it isn't", he said seriously, and then
looked to Sam as well, his voice lowering a bit to talk to Sam
only. "This is something a bit more personal." He
sighed a bit, and looked down. Then, he looked up, and addressed
the whole team again. "Effective immediately, I am taking a
leave of absence from X-Force."

A few gasps came from the team,
then a silence settled. Siryn was the first to break it, in her
usual conciliatory manner. "But...why??" she asked.

Both Amara and Dani watched Roberto
intently, and with deathly silence. They weren't stupid. They
knew his leaving was a direct result of the choice they were
forcing him into making. But they waited. For the right moment.

Roberto did notice Amara and Dani's
stone cold expressions, and swallowed a bit before continuing.
But he maintained his regal, proud bearing. "Undoubtedly,
everyone here knows already that my personal life is facing major
conflicts. And it is a priority to me. It stands before X-Force
in importance. Therefore I have decided I need to take some time
off, to think. And make some choices. When I have fixed my
personal life, I will return."

Illyana chuckled dryly, sitting on
the edge of the meeting table. "Running away, eh, hotshot?"
she demanded with stinging sarcasm.

A few people turned to look at
Illyana, and Roberto's eyes narrowed at her as well. "I am
not 'running away', Illyana. I am giving important things the
attention they need."

"And X-Force isna' important?"
asked Theresa, but not in an accusatory tone. Merely stating the
matter.

Roberto shook his head. "Not
as important as my personal life."

Feral didn't seem too happy about
this development, as she remained perched on a seat. "I'm
comin' wid jou, boss", she stated.

Again, Roberto shook his head.
"The absolute -last- thing I need now, Maria, is a beautiful
woman around me."

"Th' absolute last thing ye -ever-
need is a woman around ye..." muttered Rahne under her
breath.

With a slight growl, Feral moved a
bit uncomfortably on the chair, but did not argue further.

"Illyana is right, 'Berto",
came Dani's voice. "You're running."

The room went quiet for a moment,
then Roberto shrugged. "Maybe I am. I can't make my choices
while I am here. I need some distance. And talk to some people.
And -not- talk to some people."

"Because I can't, okay, Sam?"
Roberto said, slightly frustrated. "I can't choose which of
two cakes taste better when I have a piece of both in my mouth."

There were some blinks in the
audience at this metaphor, and a few coughs. And especially Amara's
eyes narrowed into very tight slits. But mostly, there was an, if
not understanding, then at least some sort of vague acceptance
that this was something Roberto had to do.

Sam sighed in defeat, and extended
his hand to Roberto. "Okay. Ah guess this is what y' have ta
do. Good luck, ol' buddy. Take care of yourself."

Roberto smiled faintly, and took
the hand. "To you too, Sam", he replied. "These
are dangerous times. Don't take on any foolhardy missions without
me to lead them. You'll just get killed or captured", he
smirked.

Sam chuckled, and nodded. "We'll
try. So, where are ya headed?" he asked.

With a glance towards Illyana,
Roberto stepped towards her, away from the podium. "All over
the world", he smiled. "New York is as good a place to
start as any."

Illyana nodded, and started lifting
her hand to summon a stepping disk, but was interrupted. "Wait!"
said Amara, and stepped up to Roberto, her hands going around his
waist. "I miss you already", she said softly.

Roberto smiled, and his hand came
up to caress Amara's cheek. "I miss you too, Amara", he
said quietly, and lightly kissed her lips. "I love you."
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Dani quietly walking
towards the door, attempting to leave without anyone noticing.
Should he call out to her, and humiliate her by drawing everyone's
attention to her? Or should he let her feel rotten by still being
'just a mistress', until he came back? One glance into Rahne's
eyes, and he knew which was the right choice.

"Dani, wait!" Roberto
called out, and glanced apologetically into Amara's eyes. The
blonde managed to maintain a stony expression despite the furious
jealousy raging inside her. He walked up to Dani, and looked into
her eyes for a long moment, then leaned up to kiss her on the
lips, lightly and tenderly. "I love you", he said
audibly, and finally ended all pretenses. As he turned around, he
could see how furious Amara was, but on the other hand, he could
see how happy he had made Dani. And he smiled. "Okay,
Illyana - beam me down."

Illyana chuckled, and snapped her
fingers. "Energize", she said, as a stepping disk
materialized underneath Roberto Da Costa. And as it rose upwards,
it swallowed the man, and he was gone.

A silence settled, and everyone
looked at each other uneasily. No one said a word as the room
started emptying slowly, people exiting thru the door or a
stepping disk in the corner of the room.

Dani was one of the last to exit,
and after coming out, she remained near the wall, leaning onto it
and biting her lip, her heart thumping hard. She sighed happily,
and then let the moment pass, deciding it was time to go. As she
opened her eyes, everyone had gone, and the corridor was empty.
Except for one person. Amara Aquilla. She was staring right into
Dani's eyes, with fury Dani had never before known except in one
person. Reignfire. Not Roberto, but only Reignfire had been as
psychotic as the look she now saw in Amara's eyes. It didn't
scare her. But it did worry her. Their eyes locked for uncounted
heartbeats, and then, Amara whirled around, and strode away, her
footsteps echoing off the cold floor for a long time since she
had disappeared into the darkness.

And Dani slowly slumped down,
sliding downwards along the wall, her back to it. She slid down
to sit against the wall, and stared in front of her silently. o O
(I love you, 'Berto. Please come back soon. I miss you.)